TFN Launches Fellowship Programme for Ogun Head Teachers

By Omolabake Fasogbon

A non-profit education focused organisation, Teach For Nigeria, TFN has launched its School Leadership Development Fellowship Programme for headteachers in Ogun state.

According to the organisation, the Leadership fellowship program is focused on equipping public school leaders with effective practical school leadership, management skills, and tools to place them in the best position to drive holistic transformation in their existing schools.

A total number of 15 head teachers were selected from TFN partner schools across all local government areas in Ogun state.

The eight months fellowship would also provide participants with strategies and knowledge to maintain their relevance in a period of global shift towards digitizing education. The programme takes into consideration the relevant skills needed to ensure excellent education in Nigeria.

While delivering a key note address during the virtual launch of the programme, Director of Learning As I Teach (LAIT) Foundation, Dr Abimbola Ogundere stated that the choice of LAIT Foundation as the key implementing partner of the programme was apt.

He said, “We are excited to equip, energize and empower these public school leaders to drive holistic transformation in underserved schools in low-income communities using our ‘Succeeding at Leading a Learning Community Executive Coaching Program Framework’. The coaching program promises to be intensive, transformative and life-changing. Participating headteachers will be empowered to transform themselves first and then the schools they lead.”

Chief Executive Officer of TFN, Folawe Omikunle,stated that the programme was in tune with TFN’s assignment of addressing inequality in education.

“At TFN, we all agree that addressing the challenges of providing quality education for all our children will require as many players and actors working collectively from different areas of the education ecosystem and beyond. It is in recognition of this that we are cultivating the leadership of students, young Nigerian leaders, community members, parents and more recently headteachers , by developing a Leadership Program that helps heads of schools to unleash their leadership in addressing educational inequity while leading transformative schools public schools,” she said.

In his comment, Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Ogun State, Chief Dr Femi Majekodunmi and emphasized the role of head teachers in addressing educational inequity and therefore urged them to take full advantage of the programme .

He went further to appreciate the organisation for its impactful partnership in the advancement of education in the state.

Participants will engage with course work online and onsite, mentorship with exceptional heads of schools across Nigeria. They will also be required to complete a project in their school or community dubbed “Be the Change Project” after which they will be awarded a certificate upon successful completion.